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Ultimately, the decision was made to fire Best and replace him with Starr. The way this was executed was painful; Best learned of his dismissal in a brief and abrupt conversation with Epstein. Despite his significant contributions, his departure felt entirely abrupt and unjust.
The Aftermath for Pete Best
Best's exit came at a moment of great change in music history. While The Beatles rapidly escalated to become the world's most famous band—releasing their debut album, Please Please Me, in 1963—Best was left to navigate a personal and professional fallout of significant proportions. Following his dismissal, he fell into a deep depression, retreating from public life and struggling with the stigma of being "the former Beatle."